MBB Adds Top-35 Recruit Earl Timberlake
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – University of Miami head men’s basketball coach Jim Larrañaga announced Wednesday the signing of Earl Timberlake to a National Letter of Intent.
Timberlake, a 6-foot-6, 215-pound guard out of DeMatha Catholic (Md.), joins fall signee Matt Cross in Miami’s 2020 recruiting class.
“A tremendous competitor and outstanding two-way player, Earl has the ability to elevate our program as he elevates his game,” Larrañaga said. “He comes from one of the most traditionally strong high school basketball programs in the country. That has prepared him very well to compete at the highest level of college basketball immediately.”
Timberlake is one of the most well-regarded prospects to ever sign with the Hurricanes. He is considered a five-star recruit by Rivals, which ranks him No. 24 nationally.
Additionally, Timberlake checks in at No. 32 according to both 247Sports and ESPN, as well as No. 27 in the 247Sports Composite. Each site considers Timberlake the best prospect in the state of Maryland, with Rivals and 247Sports tabbing him as the fifth-best small forward in America.
Timberlake earned First Team All-Met honors from The Washington Post as a senior after averaging a 16.5-point, 10.0-rebound double-double per game. He led DeMatha to a 30-3 record and its 41st WCAC championship, recording 19 points and eight rebounds in the title game. In addition, Timberlake was a WaPo second-team selection as a junior and a fourth-team pick the year before, when he also picked up MaxPreps Sophomore All-America Team Honorable Mention recognition.
On the Nike EYBL circuit, Timberlake averaged 18.3 points on 46.4 percent shooting across 18 outings for Team Durant in 2019, adding 9.6 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game. He tallied double-digit points all but once and 20-plus eight times, while notching nine double-doubles.
A native of Washington, D.C., Timberlake attends a high school that has produced over a dozen NBA players, including Adrian Dantley, Danny Ferry, Markelle Fultz and Victor Oladipo. He committed to Miami over North Carolina, Pittsburgh, Providence, Seton Hall and South Carolina.
“We’re very excited about having Earl and Matt join us,” Larrañaga said. “When you add Earl, Matt and [sit-out transfer] Nysier Brooks to our roster, we have size, skill and a toughness that will allow us to compete with the best teams in the ACC, which will then allow us to compete for the ACC Championship and national championship.”
Miami’s 2020 class of Timberlake and Cross, a consensus top-85 prospect, comes in at No. 21 in ESPN’s national rankings, including second among programs that signed just two players.
To keep up with the University of Miami men’s basketball team on social media, follow @CanesHoops on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
